Ashfield Boys have something to write home about

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Fighting Words Belfast were delighted to work with Ashfield Boys High School as part of the Write Down Your Street project.

“This project has been a great way to get the boys to use their imaginations to think creatively and to really get excited about writing.” Jude Rainey, Learning Support Department, Ashfield Boys HS.

Inspired by the local landscape, the history of East Belfast and its strong connection with arts and literature, pupils at Ashfield Boys have been putting pen to paper as part of a new project to develop their creative writing skills.

Ashfield Boys is one of 10 post-primary schools taking part in a new £120,000 pilot programme focused on bringing more creativity into the classroom, in order to improve educational outcomes for students. Jointly funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland National Lottery funds, Education Authority and Urban Villages Initiative, the programme is supporting projects in communities where there has previously been a history of deprivation and community tension.

The group of 18 boys aged 11-14, from year 8, 9 and 10, have visited a whole host of local landmarks over recent weeks to encourage them to think imaginatively about their local area, including Thompson Dock and the Pump House in the Titanic Quarter, and the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. Working with Fighting Words Belfast, the group have been busy developing their own characters, story settings and ideas.